C3 Mock 3.0: 25-32

Draft week is here, and C3’s Mock Draft 3.0 is here.  This version takes is our final version and is our predictions of what we think will happen. Smokewagon is back making his picks along with me in the First Round.  We each give insight as to why we think each one makes sense.  As usual, we look at some of these selections from a Panthers Fan point of view, but no matter who you are a fan of, take a look and let us know your thoughts.  You can follow me on twitter at @PanthersDrafter and Smokewagon (@SamSslater96)

Mel Mayock's Picks

Collins is clearly the BPA at this point.  The only other guy I was drooling over was Todd Gurley or even Melvin Gordon.  But Collins will be an enforcer much like Kam Chancellor is for Seattle.

First Team All-American will make the Panthers great Defense an elite Defense.  Outstanding versus the run.  Not the best in coverage, but did start 3 games at Dime Back and lead team with 3 INTs, so he is good in that area too.  Mostly, you can take a LB off the field and bring in a Nickel and not miss much with him out there.  Great pick.

With Torrey Smith gone to San Francisco for $9M per year and with the ageless Steve Smith getting one year older, this pick makes too much sense.  Flacco needs receiving options and Perriman has been rocketing up draft boards of late.  6’6/ 225  lbs and runs a 4.49 40 is obscene.  Though a troubled pass, reports are he’s a good kid that lives for football.  Read his story ( http://russellstreetreport.com/2015/02/03/nfl-draft/can-ravens-afford-pass-dgb/ )and you’ll pull for him.  I know I am, and if the Panthers pulled the trigger on him, I’d be stoked.  

The Cowboys certainly need playmakers in their Secondary.  Kevin Williams has to be a strong is the most naturally smooth and versatile CB in the draft.  He will start Day 1 and will improve that Defense overall.  I see them targeting a RB a little later in the draft since Gordon and Gurley are off the board.

The Broncos are looking to retool their Offensive Line where the word is they may be looking for as many as three new starters.  Fisher is a great talent that I think fits the Broncos very well.  They get rid of the ball quickly like Oregon did.  And they want to run the ball with their Tackles getting out to the second level which Fisher does effortlessly.  Another pick I wouldn’t mind for the Panthers if we took him.

The Colts really need Offensive line help as Luck saw way too much pressure.  He was sacked 41 times while the Colts only totalled 29 sacks themselves.   And Flowers will bring a toughness that the Colts lack and need.  He will also help newly signed Frank Gore in the running game.   They don’t want to waste the short window that Gore has with a subpar Offensive LIne.   And since they play the Texans twice they need someone to help slow down that insane defensive line lead by JJ Watt.

The Packers ranked 23rd against the rush and that is one area that has to be addressed.  Jordan Phillips is the guy to do just that.  At 6’4/ 320 lbs., he will clog up the middle and allow Clay Matthews to roam and make even more plays.  They spent a lot of money keeping Randall Cobb, so a pick on the Defense makes sense here.  Davis demands and occupies double teams.  Which is just what Green Bay needs.

This is a steal at 31 for a team that desperately needs talent in the Front Seven.  And Arik Armstead has the most NFL-Ready body in the draft.  At 6’7/296, Armstead is a beast.  Sometimes his motor is questioned, but I like what I see.  He reminds me of Calais Campbell.  If this is the pick, it will most likely make things easier for the Saints to get rid of cap-burden Junior Gillette.

es, recent reports about Collins failing multiple drug tests could drop him even further.  However, NE has a way of handling these types of players without issue.  After losing both starting CBs in Brown and Revis, the defending Super Bowl Champs are in the market for a Corner.  Jalen has all the measurables: 6’1/ 203 lbs. and ran a 4.48 40.  

SmokeWagon's Picks

Houston has Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, and Tom Savage as the only signal callers on the roster. Houston will not enter the 2015 season with these three players as their only options at the QB position unless HC Bill O’Brien wants to relive 2014 all over again when the team trotted the departed Ryan Fitzpatrick out onto the field.

With Torrey Smith gone due to free agency and with Steve Smith going on 36 years old, Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome will need to bring in youth movement to the position that can provide a target for Joe Flacco. Strong has the ability to become the Ravens number 1 with the departure of Torrey Smith and the ageless wonder that is Steve Smith at the end of his career.

Dallas needs help on defense first and foremost. Yes, they lost DeMarco Murray to FA but with that offensive line that resides there again RB can be found later and still produce. The defense on the other hand is a wreck with guys from the YMCA manning some of the positions. Johnson could start immediately at one of the corner spots and help the team forget about the bust that has been one Morris Claiborne.

ith Terrance Knighton a FA and Denver going towards a true ¾ defense under the direction of Wade Phillips a new nose tackle will be a must get for GM John Elway. Phillips is a load to handle coming in at 6’ 6” weighing in at 324 lbs. He also shown flashes of being able to rush the passer while he was anchoring that defensive line for the Sooners. For a ¾ defense to be effective it must start up front with a big body to hold down the middle and this is where Phillips comes into play.

After coming to terms with Frank Gore and Andre Johnson, Indy can devote this pick to the defensive side of the ball. It would be valuable at this spot to look for Robert Mathis’s replacement as the focal pass rusher for the Colt’s defense. Mathis is coming of an Achilles tear at 34 years old. This is not good for any player much less an undersized pass rusher that relies on speed more than power. The team takes Harold here hoping to replace Mathis for his time in the NFL is near an end.

ith BJ Raji only back on a one year deal and on the decline from injuries over the course of the last two seasons, this would be a good time to take the replacement for the future to play the role of that big space eater DT in Dom Capers ¾ defense. Goldman doesn’t offer much in the form of a pass rus but that is not what his forte is. What he does bring is a run stuffer that can eat up offensive lineman’s blocks so that it keeps clean the pursuing LB’s in Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers.

With the losses of Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills to either trade or free agency plus factor in a slowing Marques Colston, Coach Payton will grab weapon to pair across from last years first round pick in Brandin Cooks to give Brees a new downfield target to replace the loss in productivity that left with Graham and Stills.

New England fresh coming of a victory in Super Bowl 49 is going to be in the process of having to replace some of the players that got them there the season. Looking at where the key losses could come from is in the secondary. Darrelle Revis is going to be hard to afford and UFA safety Devin McCourty is looking to cash in as the number one ranked safety on the market. Drafting the smooth as silk corner out of Washington that happens to be in many scouts eyes the best cover corner in this draft will help fill the void left by “Revis Island.” The Pat’s have recent history in taking DB’s in the end of the first round with Patrick Chung in 2009 and the mentioned McCourty in 2010 respectfully.